Happy Birthday

11.08.

I saw this as an expiration date a few weeks ago. I think I will always see this expiration date, I don't think it will go away, even if I try very hard.

You told me you run away from Happy Birthdays, from fuss and gifts, but I think you were lying to me. I hope that you were lying to me, that you're getting cake, and things wrapped up, pretty and neat. I hope there is something that surprises you.

I hope that you are smiling without thinking.

That there isn't that moment when you're suddenly sad, that birthday-sad moment, when you're too-conscious of the day, of how nice it should be, and suddenly you realize time, that one more Christmas has passed by, one more 4th of July, one more slow turn into autumn.

I hope you don't think about any of that. Only that you feel, that your birth means something to somebody, that they treasure the minute, the hour, that you first gasped air, and they want you there, they want you to stay here with them.

I hope that's how you feel today.